What is the Emergency Duty Service?
It is an emergency service for people to use when they have
serious social care problems that cannot reasonably wait until the
next working day. The Emergency Duty Service is available
between:
- Monday to Friday - 6.30pm to 8.45am;
- Weekend service - Friday 6.30pm until Monday 8.45am;
- Bank holidays throughout the 24 hours.
What is a “social care” problem?
If in doubt, ring us! We will soon tell you if it not a
problem with which we deal and can probably point you in the right
direction!
Most problems are about vulnerable people – often children or older
people, or those with mental health problems – who are at risk of
harm for some reason... perhaps you think someone is hurting them,
or the arrangements for their care have broken down, or they have
become much worse and are suddenly at risk.
How to use the Emergency Duty Service
Telephone 01473 299669 and you will be connected to an
operator.
The operator will:
- Ask for your name, address, telephone number, so the Social
Worker can get back to you and hear your concerns from you
direct;
- Ask where the emergency is, and a few details about the
matter;
- Ask you to ring off, but to replace your receiver carefully and
keep your line free so that a duty social worker can contact
you;
- Identify the people concerned in the emergency on the
Social Care database, so the Social Worker when they contact you
will some understanding of the issues.
Or
- If we have never been involved with them before, “create” them
on the database. [This means there is a clear record of your
referral and the actions EDS took which will be available to the
mainstream team the next working day.]